Originally, the word borough described a group of homes surrounded by a wall, like a fortress or castle. These protected, small communities were usually towns governed by elected officials.

Today, boroughs are a type of local government district. There are 32 London boroughs, including the City of Westminster. Each sends a representative to Parliament.

In the US, New York City has five boroughs and the most famous one is Manhattan.

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Text: Elizabeth Hammett & Ewen Ku